Imperial China/ Female Servant with BioChem Knowledge/ Detective/ Potentially Romance?


***Hidden Gem Alert, but I prefer the other manga adaptation!!***
{More detailed drawing/ less detailed story}-> drawing focus


Minor Spoiler:

Story: 10
As an avid reader about history, I can definitely guarantee you that this story has actually gone through researches before writing them out. Social hierarchy, sexual differences are portrayed truthfully as those from the old Imperial days. With the background setup, the story planner needs to have decent scientific knowledge to create scenes for the main female character (Mao Mao) to act like a Conan-ish figure.

With so many elements together, each chapter (around 30-40p each) is able to transition smoothly and leave you wanting for more! Thus, an easy 10 for the effort from the novelist who help make his content adapt from novel into this manga.


Art: 9
Without a doubt, drawings of the characters’ emotions, clothing, and ornaments are on point. Background can definitely allow the me or the readers easily recognize the details of the ancient chinese decors or buildings. This version of manga is definitely slightly “more” detailed than the other manga adaptation; yet, it was the art style differences between the two adaptations that propels me to give this category an 9.

When I reflect upon the art style, it kind of reminded me of “Magi”. Because of this style, the manga is really chill and tries to potentially make readers smile or laugh. Yet, this doesn’t help generate enough of suspicion or shaky moments of “what is going to happen next” feeling for a detective-ish story. Thus, for me, this is a -1.

Other than just the style, everything is fantastic. For chapter 3, you can definitely see how much more details the mangaka put into effort of drawing the effect of the drugs on 3 maids.


Character: 10
Easily a 10 when different characters have various depths, thoughts, emotions, and motivations behind what they do through the scenes and how they grow!


Enjoyment: 9.5
I love the manga and I love the theme. I appreciate the style of this manga. -0.5 because I prefer the other adaptation. Yet, I still binged read 23 chapters in 4 hours and will definitely check out the new updates.

Overall: 9.33->9
When you are two manga adaptations from the exact same novel, one has to come out as a winner. Unfortunately, this lost so -1. ;( YETTTTTTTTTTTTT, I will not discredit the content and art of this manga. It is still extremely fantastic! :D Just not the better style~


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*For this manga, I have written two separate reviews regarding the diff between this and the other manga (https://myanimelist.net/manga/110929/Kusuriya_no_Hitorigoto__Maomao_no_Koukyuu_Nazotoki_Techou).

Both of which are based from the same novel, but their art style is pretty different and minor details are slightly diffferent as well. Some sections of the review will be exactly the same, but some won't. Read carefully for the contrast between these two and find out which you prefer!